Switching device.



P. s. TURNER.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION nun MAY I, 1913.

1 1 8 1,267 Patented May 2, 1916.

WITNESSES: ,5 mvzmon maca UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY S. TURNER, OF CHORL'ION-CUM-HARDY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1918. Serial No. 764,972.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I Psacr S. TURNER a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, an a resident of Chor ton-cum-Hardy, 1n the county of Lancaster, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switchin Devices, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to switches for use in multi le-unit control s stems, and it has for its 0 ject to provide improved switches and devices for supporting the same, whereby an inexpensive, compact, rugged and extremely well insulated switch group is obtained. I

In multiple-unit control s stems, as now generally em loyed, a plura ity of separate and indepen ently operated switches, commonly known as contactors or unit switches, are utilized, the operation of the switches being controlled by a master controller in conjunction with interlocking switches operated by the movement of the contactors or unit switches. In ap aratus of this character which is designs for practically continuous service under severe operating conditions, it is very necessar that the insulating material used shoud be of the highest class and adapted to withstand hard wear and the shocks and jolts incidental to the movement of the electric vehicles at comparatively high speeds. The insulating material which fulfils all the desired conditions is mica or some material manufactured from mica or a substitute having similar roperties, and it is a feature of the present invention that the supports for the switches, together with as many parts thereof as possible, are made of steel or iron insulated with mica or micanite.

According to my invention, the switches or contactors are each supported on a pair of arallel rods of iron or steel inclosed in an insulating tube of mica, micamte or other similar material. The rods for all the switches are arranged parallel and preferably in a horizontal plane. Such an arrangement renders the length of the entire group of switches much smaller than it would be if'the switches were arranged end to end upon a single pa r of parallel su ports since a certain distance, common y calle the creeping distance, must, in the latter case, be allowed between the several switches, which lengthens the entire appamay be clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which igure 1 is a view in front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan view showing means for supporting contactor switches according to my resent invention. Fig. 3 is a section on ine III-III of Fig. 1.

A plurality of parallel carriers 1, here shown as angle irons, are supported from the under frame or the floor of a car in any convenient manner (not shown). Suspended from the carriers 1 by plates 2, which are attached thereto by bolts 16, are a plurality of parallel rods or tubes 3 severally surrounded, for the greater portion of their lengths, by insulating tubes 4 of micanite or other suitable material. The rods 0r trbes 3 are arranged in pairs, each pair supporting one contactor switch with its interlocking switches and operating means complete (not shown); a ortion of such a contactor switch being indicated in outline at 5. The support for the switch comprises a late 6 having end portions 7 bent partia ly around the corres onding tube 4 and projecting above the tu es, as indicated at 8, to cooperate with clamping plates 9 which are also eat to partially surround the tubes. The up er ends of the plates 6 and 9 are clampe together by bolts 10, and the lower ends of the plates 9 are secured to the parts of the corresponding plates 6 which are below the sup orting ro s 3 by bolts 11. Severally attac led to said lower parts of the plates 6, also by the bolts 11, are side plates 2 the lower ends of which are turned inwardly to form led es or shelves 12' to receive flanges 13 wit which the upper portion of the contactor switch 5 is provided. The upper portion of the switch 5 is also provided with flan es 14 at the front and rear which are attached to the plate 6 by means of bolts 15. The flanges 13 are made of such dimensions that the switches to which they belong may be readily moved into, or out of, position when the bolts 1:) are removed, and, if the distances between the clainpin devices of the switch supports are not unii orm, the necessary adjustment of the rods or tubes 3 toward, or away from,

each other may be effected by turning the plates 2 upon the bolts 16 the necessary amount.

It will be seen that, by the system above described, each switch is independently supported and may readily be removed for inspection and repair without necessitatin the removal of adjacent switches; also, i? any failure of the insulating material occurs between a supportinrr rod or tube 3 and the clamps 7, 9, 10 and 11 by means of which the switch is suspended, the faulty rod may be readilv removed without necessitating the ismo'unting of other switches. Furthermore, the structure is rendered very compact because the creeping distance between one switch and the next depends on the distance between the clampin and supportin devices, and is independent of the actual distance between adjacent switches. Suitable insulating material or other material for shields may be attached, if desired, between the adjacent. switches to form cells, each one of which contains a switch.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a plurality of switches and main carrying means therefor, of a plurality of pairs of rods severally disposed perpendicularly to said carrying means, and a plurality of sets of detachable hangers for severally enga ing said pairs of rods and supporting Sfli( switches.

2. The combination with a plurality of switches and main carrying beams therefor, of a plurality of se arate pairs of independent parallel ro s severally attached perpendicularly to said beams, and an equal pluralit of sets of hangers for severally detacha )ly encircling the rods in the several airs and severally supporting said switcl i es intermediate each 0 said pairs said sets severally comprising a plurality 0 independent plates of substantially U-shape attached to said switches, and a ilurality of independent curved clamping are detachably associated with eaci end of said plates for respectively engaging one of said rods and one of said switches.

3. In a switch-supporting device, the combination with a lurality of independent pairs of supporting rods, of an equal plurality of sets of hangers for severally detachably encircling the rods in the several pairs and severally supporting said switches intermediate each of said pairs, said sets severally comprising a plurality of independent plates of substantially U-shape attached to said switches, and a plurality of independent curved clamping bars detachably associated with each end of said plates for respectively engaging one of said rods and one of said switches.

4. In a switch group, the combination with a lurality of switches and carryin means tlierefor, of a plurality of pairs 0? insulated rods severally disposed )erpendicularly to said carrying means, and a plurality of sets of detachable hangers for severally enga ing said pairs of rods and supporting said switches.

5. In a switch roup, the combination with a )lurality of switches and carrying means t erefor, of a plurality of insulated rods severally disposed perpendicularly to said carrying means, means for adjustably supporting said rods, and detachable hangers for suspending said switches from said rods.

6. In a switch-supporting device, the combination with a lurality of pairs of insulated rods, of a pluralit of pairs of detachable hangers supportec by said pairs of rods and having recesses to receive and support s'aid switches.

7. In a switch-sup iorting device, the combination with a p urality of pairs of rods, of adjustable means for supporting said rods at an Y selected distance from each other, pairs 0 detachable hangers for engaging said pairs of rods and having recesses for receiving and detachably supporting said switches.

8. In a switch-sup orting device, the combination with a plurality of pairs of rods, of adjustable means for supporting said rods at any selected distance from each other, a fplurality of pairs of detachable hangers -or engagin said pairs of rods and having recesses or receiving and detachably su porting said switches, and means for c amping said switches to said hangers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this eleventh day of April 1913. p

PERCY S. TURNER. Witnesses:

Aa'rnoa Hsnar Horns, Cms. J. FALCONER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for an cents each. by addressing the "cammaaom of Patent. Washington, D. C. 

